The Indian conglomerate Adani Group has addressed criticism surrounding its export of Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components to Israel.
In a statement to the Financial Times, the company maintains that the Israeli-designed drones are specifically intended for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The controversy stems from allegations by various Indian media outlets that the drones may have been used for armed operations against civilian targets.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the original developer of the Hermes 900 system, states that the UAV’s 450kg payload capacity offers flexibility for multiple mission profiles. However, IAI has refrained from explicitly confirming the drones' weaponization capabilities.
The Hermes 900 falls under the category of medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drones, commonly employed for ISR missions. Analysts note that such systems, while primarily designed for surveillance, can be adapted for carrying weapons.
At the center of the controversy is the Adani Group's partnership with Israel's Elbit Systems. This joint venture includes the manufacturing of Hermes 900 aero-structures and subsystems in India.
The Adani Group's clarification on the non-combat use of the exported components seeks to allay concerns raised by domestic critics regarding the potential ethics of Indian-supplied components in potentially offensive Israeli operations.
